I have an employee that wants a Kuwait 18 Visa. What does this mean for me. I am in the U.S.?

Question

He wants the 18 visa so he can bring his family into Kuwait to live with him.

Answer 1

That is an Employment visa. I think it means he wants you to find a company to sponsor him and his family? This is close to slavery. You can pay a Kuwaiti citizen to get him that visa. When I was there the going price was Three hundred KD a year about One Thousand US Dollars. They need that to legally work in Kuwait. Remember who ever sponsors him for this is Financially responsible for him sometimes legally also. Like if he leaves the country with a credit card dept the sponsor has to pay it. Sometimes the sponsor will extort money from the employee after they pay by threatening to cancel the visa. Use caution when you negotiate this.

Regards,

Answer 2

Yet it does not mean that you will have to sponsor his family.  Once he receives the work visa(18), he can sponsor his family himself.  The visa also allows the employer to live on the economy.  If you have employees  working in the country, it is quite beneficial to supply them with "work visas(18)"  especially if they are there longer than 3 months!  On a visitor visa you have to  exit and re-enter the country every 3 months. which can be costly to your company. if this is what you have them doing.  To sum it up, I think if you don't offer the 18 visa already,  YOU SHOULD. you're probably waisting alot of comp money on just visitor visas.  Alot of workers bring their families to live with them in Kuwait.  There is more security in the work visa.  even if you don't offer it to him.  his family meaning(spouse and dependents) are still able to live with him, if you will allow it.